My dog's paw is swollen and bleeding between toes. What's wrong?

Lucy could have a foreign body such as a grass seed or foxtail causing the swelling, could have broken her toes or torn a ligament, or could have an infection. If she doesn't want to walk on it and they are very swollen, she will need to see a vet for this. The vet can diagnose what is causing the swelling and can treat her for it. I would take her into a vet tomorrow. Tonight, try soaking her paw in an Epsom salt bath, and I would put an Ecollar on her to keep her from chewing on them. You can make one at home: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Ouch! Chopper's paw looks quite inflamed and uncomfortable! Some of the more common causes of swelling between the toes are related to contact allergies, ingrown or infected hair follicles, or immune system disorders. Peroxide can be beneficial to clean out an open wound once, but can actually delay tissue healing if it is used repeatedly. In the future, I would avoid using peroxide. Due to this degree of swelling and discomfort, Chopper should be examined by his vet. I didn't see any pustules in the photos, but his vet will need to closely look for these during exam, as they can indicate the presence of infection. Chopper may also need oral or topical anti-inflammatory medications or anti-itch medications to allow his foot to heal. Repeated licking is only irritating his skin further and could lead to a skin infection (if it isn't already present). Try to put an e-collar (cone) on Chopper until you can take him to the vet to prevent further skin damage. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Poor Gizmo! That looks really sore. The lesion in the picture could be an abscess, a very large interdigital cyst or a tumor. I would recommend that you have Gizmo seen by your veterinarian. They may recommend a fine needle aspirate of the lesion to get a better idea of what is causing the swelling. Surgery may be required to lance and drain the abscess or remove a mass if present.

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that VooDoo has a bum foot. Irritation and infection from licking can very well cause swelling and irritation like this, and KetoHex alone probably won't be enough to get the swelling down if he's still able to lick it. I highly recommend that you put an e-collar (also known as a cone) on VooDoo so that he can't get to the paw. I know it's rough on them, but they don't know not to lick, and he'll just wind up making his paw worse and worse. That being said, if the swelling doesn't go down after he hasn't been able to lick it for a while, I suggest re-visiting the vet to see if there could be anything stuck in the skin of his paw, like a tiny thorn. I have seen swelling like this caused by a foreign object in the past, and sometimes they can be very hard to see. The vet may also be able to prescribe some anti-inflammatories that will help with the swelling and pain (do not give anything over-the-counter as they could be dangerous to VooDoo). It is also possible that the swelling is being caused by a tumor, but considering VooDoo's age, I highly doubt that this is the case. Good luck, and I hope that VooDoo's foot feels better soon!

Yes, I would get a cone. Be sure that the cone extends past the end of his nose or he will still be able to lick. This could be a serious problem. Bumps between the toes can be anything from a cyst, to a tumor to an abscess. You can keep soaking it with Epsom salts. You can apply the aloe but it's not likely to help; Neosporin would be better. I suggest you don't wrap it. If you bandage it too tight or incorrectly then you can cause more damage. If after 4-5 days he is not better you need to get him to the vet for an exam.

Ouch! Charlie's sores look like they are very inflamed and likely painful. I would recommend taking him in to your vet to have his skin and paws evaluated. He may need antibiotics for an infection as well as anti-inflammatory medication for pain and swelling. Some dogs need bandages as well to protect their feet when they walk from making sores like this worse and allowing them to heal.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection or a traumatic injury for example. It is difficult to know without being able to examine her. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start antibiotics if needed. Good luck and have a good night!